Campus
Wednesday, August 20, 1986
University Daily Kansan
Director manages state of the unions
Allan Hagman/KANSAN
By Kristi Schroeder
Staff writer
He's in charge of a $10 million operation, and much of that money comes from KU students' pockets, but he is not well-known outside of the buildings he runs.
James Long is director of the Kansas and Burge unions. As director, he is in charge of the management of the unions and the variety of services they provide.
Long came to the University of Kansas three and a half years ago. He replaced Frank Burge, who had been director for 30 years. Long came to KU after working 11 years at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Before that he worked at the Emporia State University Union.
Within the Kansas and Burge unions, Long is responsible for supervising the seven major department heads. The Unions have 250 to 300 employees — depending on the time of year — working under these heads of departments.
"My responsibility is to set the goals for the entire operation, to muster our resources whether they are human or financial, and to achieve those goals, be short- or long-term." Long said.
Amar Hagmani/KARAN James Long, director of the Kansas and Burge unions, oversees operations at both unions, including the recent renovations.
Long works with the departments on personnel operations, budget planning and goals for the services and buildings that he supervises.
He coordinates the efforts of the seven departments, each of which are assigned different duties. The departments screen candidates for jobs within the different areas and do the hiring themselves.
A typical day for Long usually begins with doing as much of the administrative business as possible, such as taking care of correspondence and completing necessary reports in the morning.
"I'm biased," Ambler said. "Because ultimately I selected him."
Ambler described Long as competent and capable.
In the afternoon, Long tries to go out into the main building and visit the other areas under his control outside of the Kansas Union. These include the cafeteria in Wesco Hall and the Burge Union. But Long said that he didn't get out to visit them as often as he would like.
During the latter part of the day, Long said, he tried to meet with his department heads, although he didn't do this every afternoon. Long also meets with David Ambler, vice chancellor for student affairs and his immediate boss.
Ambler said he was attracted by Long's career, his professional competencies and his personal characteristics.
"He made me feel he was the right person for the job." Ambler said.
Long's ability not to get rattled under pressure is a prerequisite for his job, Ambler said. The Union director needs to be someone who doesn't get upset or lose perspective in the face of a crisis.
"With a $10 million operation, you need someone who can roll with the punches," Ambler said.
"The renovations to date are on target." Long said.
Rolling with the punches has been a little bit harder later for Long, who is putting the renovations for the Kansas Union into action.
Plans for the renovation began two and a half years ago. When Ambler hired Long, he did it believing Long would be a driving force behind the renovation.
The renovations have included a lot of extra duties for Long. The preconstruction moves have been underway for the past two months. This has included moving the Oread Bookstore to the fourth level of the Kansas Union.
The moves have been planned to be made in the most timely and efficient manner, Long said.
"And he proved my point," Ambler said.
"One of our biggest challenges is to keep the operation open while the renovation is taking place.
"We know that as a result of the actual renovation processes beginning, that it will be a frustrating period not only for patrons of the building, but some of those that have offices in the building, as well as our own employees," Long said.
An in-depth look was taken at the major activities that occur in the Union to see what effect the renovation might have on students, Long said.
"We believe at this point there are very few activities that we will not be able to handle at all over the traditional ones we've handled in the past." Long said.
Some moving of activities from the Union will occur, but with cooperation, flexibility and understanding on
the part of the planners of the activities and the participants, minimal problems should arise, Long said
Because the Union is being renovated, not added onto, no additional space is going to be made available. Long said. This creates the problem of moving offices and services around, rather than to new areas.
Actual construction in the Union will not begin until January or February, he said. One of the biggest parts of the renovation is the change in the Kansas Union Bookstore
Steve Word, manager of the bookstores, said the renovation had brought many new major projects to
See Long, p. 5, col. 4
KU gets grant to study environmental toxins
By Sheri Donaldson Special to the Kansan
Now that Congress has approved $2 million in defense-research funds for KU, researchers on West Campus and at the University of Kansas Medical Center intend to proceed with their plans to study environmental toxins, or poisonous substances.
The funds received final approval June 26 in a 56-42 vote in the U.S. Senate. The research will be funded by the Department of Defense.
According to Elias Michaels, professor of biochemistry and leader of the toxin research, the funding will cover an approximate two-year period and involve 21 investigators. About $1 million of the funds will finance research at the Lawrence campus, and $1 million is marked for Med Center research.
"There will be many different projects. For example, toxic nerve gases, such as those used in World War I, will be studied," he said. "We want to know why something like a nerve gas causes brain damage and what is the best treatment for a soldier or a population of civilians."
"Since there is a moderate degree of danger involved, this type of research will be conducted at the Med Center. It has been designated an authorized facility with security procedures to handle this type of material."
Michaelis said the research conducted at the Lawrence campus would involve the study of certain low-level toxins.
"New toxins found in fish, bacteria, fungi and other substances have been discovered. We want to find out how some of these toxins affect people," Michaelis said.
These experiments will be conducted on West Campus at the biological research labs in the Biological Research Center.
All of the research will be unclassified and the results made available to the public when the studies are completed, Michaels said.
The $2 million will cover all aspects of the research. Michaelis said the funds would pay for the purchase of new instrumentation, supplies, glassware and the salaries of research associates. The associates are individuals at the doctorate level and beyond who will function as researchers under the direction of key faculty members.
Michaelis explained that some
neurotoxin research was already giving on at KU, but that the federal funding would enhance and amplify the program. He said KU researchers had communicated directly with research units in the Army Medical Command, a division of the Army concerned with the treatment and protection of individuals injured during battle.
"They are aware of our research plans," he said. "The Army Medical Command wants to send a scientific committee out here to review the program and discuss specifics.
"So, this research is not free-flowing. It's not like Congress can give us the money and we can do just anything."
The approval to allocate the funds came after a lengthy battle. The legislative fight began June 6 when the Senate voted 58-40 to kill defense-research funds for 11 universities. Sen John Danforth, R-Mo., led the opposition. He claimed that the funding was based more on the political clout of the universities' senators than on the merit of the research proposals.
Danforth argued heatedly against the proposed funding during the final vote June 26. During his speech, he said "What we are saying is that it doesn't matter whether they have the capability to do research or not. What matters is pork-barrel politics. What matters is having the right friends on the right committees of Congress of the United States."
A House-Senate conference committee restored the funding June 18 in a compromise version of the legislation. With a push from Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, R-Kan., $55.6 million for defense research was restored to the bill; $2 million of it is intended for KU.
Dole said the research monies were for equipment and facilities related to research.
"Without state-of-the-art facilities, universities cannot effectively compete for research funds," he said. "Until they possess such facilities, institutions continue to be at a serious disadvantage in the competition for research funding and will be denied the opportunity of developing their full potential."
Those opposing the funding felt that direct appropriation by Congress undermined the conventional merit-visit route. Danforth said in
See Toxin, p. 5, col. 5
Serving K.U. and the Lawrence community.
- Three Convenient Locations
- FREE Delivery
- FREE Patient Profile
WATCH FOR GUR NEW HEALTHMART GRAND OPENING SALE!!
404 Maine 4TH & MAINE 842-3379
- Senior Citizen 15%-Discount on All Prescriptions
- FREE Medical Expense Records
DOWNTOWN
921 Massachusetts • 843-3521
The three Raney Drug Stores are conveniently located to give you the service of your own "neighborhood drug store". Each is professionally staffed with pharmacists, cosmeticians, and friendly sales people to help you in every way. Your prescriptions are filled with the finest quality medications. Our cosmetic and fragrance lines are sure to please the most discriminating of tastes. Your sweet tooth will adore our selection of Russell Stover Candies. And no matter what the occasion, our fine display of Hallmark Cards are sure to bring a smile. So when you need a drug store, look to your "neighborhood drug stores" Raney!
2